James Clemens House
In January 2003, I was fortunate enough to be included in a visit to the building for the benefit of a Missouri Department of Natural Resources (Preservation) representative. Relying natural light on the upper floors, and flashlights downstairs where the windows have been boarded up, we spent about an hour inspecting the building's rotting interior.

Much has been lost to vandalism and water penetration -- original lighting fixtures are missing, and the fireplace mantles have been smashed and destroyed as seen here. But enough survives that a restoration is feasible, and the fine proportions and grand scale of the interior remain impressive.

The image at left is the second story hallway of the original house. The large hole in the ceiling plaster is spreading toward the ornate plaster design (identical to the one shown below) surrounding the chandolier fixture.